Mortal Cultivation: Starting from Hiding in the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion

"Repair it to the correct standard."

The first person whose name was called was Xiu Zhun.

The voice of Ling Jue, the peak master of Junji Peak, was not loud, but it clearly resounded throughout the entire square.

Xiu Zhun was visibly stunned. He stood there, seemingly not having heard clearly, for several breaths.

In recent years, he once thought that the sect had given up on him.

His spiritual root was damaged, his cultivation level declined, and he fell from his position as the senior disciple of the outer sect, becoming a tragic figure lamented by everyone.

Although he still appeared lazy and carefree on the surface, drinking and sleeping as he pleased while holding his wine gourd, deep down he had long since given up hope.

So when he heard Ling Jue call out his name, he was somewhat dazed.

It wasn't until someone reminded him that he composed himself, stepped out of the queue, came to the platform, and bowed, saying, "Disciple is here."

Ling Jue looked at the young man before him, once so full of vigor but later fallen to the bottom, his gaze filled with a complex mix of admiration and regret: "You've been in the outer sect for many years, experiencing both highs and lows. Your performance in this assessment is evident to all. I intend to have Wu Du take you under his wing. Are you willing?"

Xiu Zhun's expression was somewhat complicated. He remained silent for a moment, then bowed deeply, his voice slightly hoarse: "This disciple is willing."

Ling Jue nodded, gesturing for him to step aside.

At this moment, Mo Changqing, the head of the Danfu Academy, stood up and called out a name: "Zhang Yao".

Zhang Yao quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Disciple is here."

"You possess considerable talent in the art of alchemy and talisman making, and you have also established a talisman research society within the sect, inspiring many disciples to delve into the art of talismans. I wish to accept you as a disciple under my name; are you willing?"

Zhang Yao bowed and answered, his voice steady, but the slight tremor at the end betrayed his inner excitement: "This disciple is willing."

The members of the Yanfu Society immediately burst into cheers.

Zhang Yao is the founder of the Talisman Research Society. It was because he founded this society that these disciples who love talismans had a platform to communicate and showcase their talents, and also gave them the opportunity to be seen by their teachers.

Based on this alone, Zhang Yao was selected, and everyone was genuinely happy for him.

Next, Wenxuan, Mo Changqing's disciple, also took in Lu Ji, that talisman fanatic. Upon hearing that he had been called out, he was so excited that he almost jumped up. He ran and jumped forward, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Then, the sect leader's disciple, Ji Nan, also took in another person.

Even Ding Che, a disciple of Lianjishan, had his eye on a disciple who was at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

As more and more disciples were selected, everyone's mood became increasingly anxious.

Those disciples who performed well in the assessment were now nervously clenching their fists, hoping that their names would be called next.

At this moment, a middle-aged Taoist priest stood up and recited a name: "Guo Zhanyuan".

Guo Zhanyuan shuddered.

He never expected to be chosen. He was the one who was eliminated in the second round!

Moreover, there was an element of trickery involved in that victory; he never imagined that he would be noticed by his superiors.

But this fellow reacted extremely quickly. Almost the instant he heard his name called, he darted out like a gust of wind, rushed forward in a flash, bowed respectfully, and said in a loud voice, "Disciple is here!"

This Taoist priest was none other than Feng Yaoting, a disciple of Ouyang Dun.

Feng Yaoting spoke up, "I have already witnessed your talent and resourcefulness in the art of formations. Would you be willing to become my disciple?"

Guo Zhanyuan was so excited he almost jumped up, but he held back, maintaining his bowing posture, though his voice rose an octave uncontrollably: "This disciple is willing!"

His fellow disciples in the audience cheered again, and Su Xiaoyuan smiled as she looked at him.

With several disciples being accepted into the sect by their masters, there are very few disciples left who have performed exceptionally well in the competitions.

At this moment, Fang Baichuan, the head of the Shanggong Hall, slowly stood up.

He read out a name: "Su Xiaoyuan".

Su Xiaoyuan's heart skipped a beat. She quickly stepped forward, came to the platform, and bowed, saying, "Disciple is here."

Fang Baichuan looked at the young man in front of him with admiration in his eyes.

He slowly spoke: "I have witnessed your performance in this assessment. With a cultivation level of the fifth level of Qi Refining, you defeated Shi Jian, Bu Nianke, and Tu Qian one after another, winning the top spot in the mid-stage Qi Refining camp. This achievement is enough to rank you among the best in all the assessments of the Nine Profound Sect."

"I, Fang Baichuan, the esteemed head of the Shanggong Hall, wish to accept you as my personal disciple. Are you willing?"

These words immediately caused a stir in the square!

"Master Fang personally accepts disciples?!"

"That's the head of the Shanggong Hall!"

"A direct disciple! Not a nominal disciple! A direct disciple!"

"Su Xiaoyuan, a disciple at the fifth level of Qi Refining, has become a first-generation disciple? In the same generation as the personal disciples of the various peak masters?!"

The discussion below the stage surged like a tide, and countless eyes were focused on Su Xiaoyuan. Some were envious, some were jealous, some were surprised, and some were genuinely happy for her.

Su Xiaoyuan's heart was also filled with turbulent emotions.

He had already found out Fang Baichuan's seniority from Guo Zhanyuan.

Fang Baichuan is of the same generation as the peak masters. Becoming his personal disciple means that Su Xiaoyuan has also joined the ranks of the disciples of the same generation, and is on equal footing with the personal disciples of those peak masters.

For a Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator who started as a menial disciple, this was nothing short of soaring to the heavens.

He suppressed his excitement, took a deep breath, bowed solemnly, and said in a steady and firm voice, "This disciple is willing. Thank you, Master."

Fang Baichuan nodded in satisfaction.

After that, apart from two nominal disciples, including Liu Yiyi, being converted into personal disciples, there were no other unexpected arrangements.

At this point, the apprenticeship ceremony was nearing its end.

Sect Leader Bu Tianyi stood up, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall, and announced in a loud voice: "These are the complete candidates for this disciple-acceptance ceremony."

He paused, noticing the undisguised disappointment on the faces of the disciples below who hadn't been chosen, and then changed his tone: "Those disciples who weren't selected by their masters, don't be discouraged. I have another piece of good news to announce. In order to recruit more disciples and glorify the sect, starting this year, the sect's assessment will be held annually. Those disciples who didn't perform well this year, go back and cultivate diligently. I look forward to seeing your progress this time next year."

This news was like a bombshell, exploding across the square!

"Once a year?!"

"Doesn't that mean everyone has more opportunities?"

"Great! I'm definitely going to make it into the top three next year!"

A buzz of discussion immediately filled the square, and almost all the disciples showed expressions of surprise and delight.

The assessment is held once a year, which means that everyone has more opportunities. Those disciples who did not perform well this year can try again next year.

Only Su Xiaoyuan frowned slightly after hearing the news.

He glanced at Bu Tianyi, then at the other teachers and mentors present, and a sense of doubt arose in his heart.

What's the Nine Mysteries Sect in such a hurry?

Based on his experience from his previous life, if a country is frequently recruiting soldiers, it means that war is about to break out.

Does this logic also apply to this cultivation continent?

However, he currently has too little information to make a judgment.

He had no choice but to suppress this doubt in his heart for the time being, and to investigate it slowly when he had the opportunity later.